CDTA to Hold Public Meetings for ALBANY SERVICE RESTRUCTURE – Phase 2

CDTA is holding five public meetings “to gather additional input and share information about phase two of the proposed Albany County service restructure plan…[which] will focus service provided in the surrounding areas of Albany County and is scheduled for implementation later this year.

“Customers may visit www.cdta.org or call (518) 482-8822 to provide comments regarding potential service changes in the areas covered by Phase Two. Customer comments will be accepted through March 1, 2012 and may be submitted online to cdta@cdta.org or mailed to:
CDTA Albany County Restructuring – Phase Two
Attn: Marketing Department
110 Watervliet Avenue
Albany, NY 12206″

I understand, in theory, breaking up the conversation points to particular geographies. However, for my needs, I’d likely want to make comments about three different routes, being discussed on three different nights.

Since I have no idea about what the tentative plan is yet, it is difficult to speak to the proposed changes. I can say, however, that I appreciate being able to use the #63. Though a long haul, it is almost a direct route from our house to one of our child sitters.

As for #29 and the #737, I think of them in tandem. Since the #737 doesn’t leave Washington and Lark toward Corporate Woods between 8:17 a.m. and 12:07 p.m., the least bad option to get to Corporate Woods is taking the #29 to Memorial Hospital and walking or getting a ride.

A couple things about #737: I’d love to see one more run to Corporate Woods in the morning (maybe, instead of the 7:17 and 8:17, have 7:17, 8:02, 8:47). Likewise in the evening. But I’m wondering how worth it is to go all the way to British American Boulevard? If people ARE taking it, it’s but a tiny number.

I’m also sad that there is not a single meeting in the city of Albany. They be thought of as suburban routes, but several of them, including the #22 and the aforementioned routes, run at least in part within the city limits.

The irony is that I’d be hard pressed to get to any of these meeting without making a huge time commitment because I would inevitably have to take CDTA to get there. I could rather easily get to the Colonie Town Library to talk about the #737, but getting home would involve the #610 to Colonie Center, the #905 or #1 to downtown, and the #10, probably taking longer than the 1.5 hour meeting.

11 Responses

RG,
These meetings are to hear what people living in these areas would like to see from service changes. We will solicit opinions and ask riders their desires for where service is needed most. The next group of meetings, we will bring a proposal to the Capital Region for Phase Two. This is in the pre-planning stages prior to when we saw you this past July.

I would like to see #22 (and all routes for that matter) follow the same route 24 hours a day. Having to transfer on Pearl or walk up the hill from Greyhound are major inconveniences, and all just because I had to work a little late.

Y’know, Dani – I’m actually sympathetic to your suggestion of having the #55, in lieu of the #1 and the #355, something a transportation friend of mine said was a terrible idea. The problem, as I understand it, has to do with going to both Colonie Center and Northway Mall, which is terribly time consuming. I wonder if there could be a variation on the Wolf Road shuttle to address that legitimate issue – one does not really want people crossing Central Avenue, even at the light, to go to the opposite-side mall.

@Jon – I hear what you’re saying, but people who live in Albany use these routes too. It would be helpful to those of us who live in the city of Albany if CDTA could add one meeting on all of the routes at an easily accessible location (e.g. Main Branch of the library) in Albany. Please consider it… if you see this. Oh, I’ll probably send you an email too.

@Roger – hmmm, why was I so against the return of the 55? I’ve got to think about that one because I really can’t remember my rationale….

I would like to see #22 follow the same route at all hours. I don’t like having to transfer on Pearl Street, or climb the hill from the Greyhound station in the dark just because I left work a little late. Same goes for #224, which I ride as well– but I recognize that’s a Rensselaer County route and so probably not really in scope here.

#7- Perhaps, because it might take away riders from the BusPlus route? Or at least would have discouraged some from adopting it initially?

#5- I’m not sure what numbering scheme you’re trying to use. I think the 2xx routes are supposed to be Rensselaer County neighborhood (non-trunk) routes. Otherwise not bad ideas, but I believe these changes have to be revenue-neutral. You’re talking about expanding service, with very little offset.

Following up on your valid point about adding a meeting for Albany residents, I wanted to bring a problem in Albany to your attention. It’s something I noticed on the #29 bus that comes down Rt. 9 from Cohoes & Latham into Albany. Usually the busiest morning 29 bus is the one that leaves Cohoes at 6:55am. (It also doesn’t help that CDTA seems to only deploy its smaller buses for the peak AM and PM hours on the 29.)

In fact, by the time we leave Latham, it’s already almost standing-room only. This means that by the time we reach a community group home near Philip Livingston on Northern Blvd. at about 7:43, this means that many days of the week, very few seats (if any) are left for city residents — including residents of that group home. (At least Albany residents don’t have to be on the bus that long but it’s an uncomfortable few minutes for them.)

A few possible solutions for CDTA might include:
1. Adding a few more frequent peak morning #29 bus runs from Cohoes to Albany;
2. Deploying larger buses for those busiest runs before switching to smaller buses during slower periods of the day.
3. Adding/expanding morning peak service from other buses to serve the Northern Blvd. area more effectively so residents here are not stuck being jammed into the 29 bus like sardines many days of the week.

Hope this is helpful if & when CDTA ever schedules an Albany meeting for city residents/passengers.

Leah – No, I never did understand your adamant opposition to the #55. You wrote at the time:

“@Roger — What??? Now you’re changing the route of the old 55 and having it go into Colonie Center? I don’t agree with that, no siree.

“To me, this once again boils down to transfers: Why is CDTA one of the only transit agencies in the state that doesn’t offer free or low-cost transfer?”

I thought of it as like taking the express subway or the local. I reiterate what I’ve said before: the bulk of the unhappy people are those stuck with the #355, who live far enough away from the #905 stop that they need to take two buses (the #355 and the #1 or #905) or more, if they need to transfer again. The transfer charge issue is not the point I’m hearing, it’s making multiple connections.
I’ve gotten almost no complaints about the #905 stops from the folks east of Colonie Center.

Regarding Phase 2 of the reconstructing….
The best ideas I say, would have to be…..

#29 (Albany/Latham/Cohoes) – add Saturday service and run service up to Rt. 9 & Boght Rd on every trip.

#63 (Route Twenty) – add weekday service throughout the day

#70 (Troy/Schenectady) – add Sunday service. Also run the bus route on a more fixed schedule ( like every hour/ every half hour) – rather than how it is now ( every 45, 50 or 75 minutes).

#90 (Troy/Latham/Crossgates) – Split this route up. Somehow combine the #90 with the #610 (Shuttle) and have it run between Rt. 7 & Vly Rd and Crossgates Mall. Have it go Rt. 7 & Vly Rd, British-American Blvd, Albany Airport, Albany-Shaker Rd, Wolf Rd, Central Ave, Fuller Rd, and Washington Ave to UAlbany and Crossgates. Also have the #90 stop at the State Office Campus.

Run a new north/south bus on Rt. 155, between Voorhesville and Rt. 7 & Vly Rd. Have the new bus leave Voorhesville and run State Farm Rd, stop at 20 mall, run New Karner Rd, cross Central Ave, then continue on New Karner Rd onto Vly Rd onto Denison Rd onto Birchwood Rd, then Rt. 7 to CHP Plaza.

Bring back the #409 bus and this time have it run between Latham Farms and Saratoga Springs, via Rt. 9.
Have it leave Latham Farms and go north on Rt. 9 into Clifton Park, stop at Halfmoon Walmart and Exit 9 Park & Ride, then go Sitterly Rd to Clifton Country Mall, then Rt. 146 to Fire Rd, back to Rt. 9 north. Go on Kinns Rd, Pierce Rd and Ushers Rd (like before) and through the Vilage of Round Lake (like before) and head directly north on Rt. 9 from Round Lake to Downtown Saratoga Springs (with no trailer park stops).
This would allow Albany County customers to access Saratoga, without having to take the NX or ride all the way to Schenectady, then take the #50 bus.
Riders can take the #409 from Saratoga to Latham Farms, then the #29, #70 or #90 to other areas in Albany County.